Documents: Accused Clergy Cost Church Millions

Internal church documents show the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has paid millions of dollars in costs associated with clergy misconduct in the last decade.

An investigation by Minnesota Public Radio News found that from 2002 to 2011 the archdiocese paid nearly $11 million in costs related to allegations against priests. That's about 3 percent of archdiocese revenues in those years.

MPR reports the money was used to persuade priests to leave active ministry, for legal settlements, for therapy for victims and priests, and other costs.

The documents also show the archdiocese paid a private investigator $112,000 over 10 years.

The archdiocese did not immediately return messages left Thursday by The Associated Press.

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